A Clockwork Orange: Alex and His Droogs Land Off-Broadway
If you remember seeing the 1971 Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange and might have possibly read Anthony Burgess’s chilling version of a dystopian society in England, this play should be on your must-view list. You’ll completely understand the plot and be enthralled by the energetic, theatrical treatment given it Off-Broadway at the New World Stages. If you’re a newbie to the story, you might want to grab a copy of Burgess’s landmark book with its glossary in the back pages and read a bit to prepare you for the play. The experience is somewhat like seeing a Shakespearean play for the first time: it takes you a while to understand what’s being spoken and to follow the story line.
Little Alex and his band of delinquents are committing
mayhem throughout England, responsible for a good deal of the “ultra-violence”
so prevalent during this time period. In the movie, the establishing shots
occur over a much longer time frame than in the play, making it easier to
understand the underlying threat to society that this gang poses. Here, the set-up is quick, and the ensuing
events are also fairly quick. The general result is clear, but it will take
some paying attention to follow.
Additionally, Burgess has created his own language for droogies
Alex, Dim, Georgie and Billy Boy. It’s a mix of Russian and English, morphed
into words that Alex frequently uses as verbs, nouns, and situational
descriptors. That’s where having some familiarity with the book’s glossary is
useful. I speak Russian and could figure out what the words meant, but they
will sound like gibberish to most.
The comparisons between the movie and the show are notable,
with some exceptions. This version, brought over by director Alexandra
Spencer-Jones of London, is even more stylized than the movie (which was
already visually arresting and somewhat surreal). In another creative digression from the movie,
the all-male cast takes turns playing various roles, including some female ones,
cued by a piece of clothing or a pair of shoes, for instance. Again,
concentration is needed to follow these changes and to understand the role of
music in the storyline.
Alex is played by a British actor, Jonno Davies, with a
background in Shakespeare at London’s West End. Others in the cast hail from
the US and include Broadway veterans Matt Doyle (The Book of Mormon, War Horse,
Spring Awakening) and Jordon Bondurant (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,
Mamma Mia!) as two of Alex’s counterparts in crime. The ensemble is also the
most physically fit group of performers that I’ve seen together on a stage,
using striking choreography to tell significant parts of the tale.
Brush up on your Burgess and get a ticket for this
limited-run show playing, through January 6, 2018. New World Stages, 340 West
50th Street, 800-447-7400. www.AClockworkOrangePlay.com.
(All photos by Caitlin McNaney)
Off-Broadway Dining Notes:
Check out Chez Josephine, 414 West 42nd, a classic of Josephine Baker cool in the heart of the Off-Broadway theater area.
Or Sushi Ichi Masa, 302 West 50th Street, a cozy, authentic sushi bar next to the theater.
wow, this really seems like an awesome experience! I wish I have known about that earlier though. I hope I will find a way to attend the show in January. Thank you so much for sharing!
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